Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common condition among older adults. It is associated with frequent hospitalizations, impaired functional capacity, reduced quality of life, and high healthcare utilization. Despite recent advances in pharmacological therapy, many patients continue to experience recurrent clinical deterioration and functional decline. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation has demonstrated benefits in improving physical performance and quality of life. Still, its effect on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with high-risk HFpEF has not been established.
The EMPOWER-HFpEF study is a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial designed to evaluate whether an early, individualized, multimodal exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program improves clinical outcomes compared with usual care in patients with HFpEF. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either usual care alone or usual care plus a structured 12-month exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program. The intervention includes an initial 6-month supervised phase, followed by a 6-month hybrid phase combining supervised sessions with structured home- or community-based exercise to promote long-term adherence and maintenance of physical activity.
The primary objective is to determine whether this rehabilitation strategy reduces adverse clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, all-cause hospitalizations, and outpatient heart failure decompensation, while improving functional capacity and health-related quality of life over 12 months. The results of this study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of a long-term multimodal exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program as part of the comprehensive management of patients with HFpEF.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
patricia.fernandez@incliva.es96 162 89 18
No additional parties are masked.
Participants receive guideline-directed medical therapy, regular follow-up in the heart failure clinic, lifestyle education, and individualized recommendations for home-based physical activity, in accordance with current clinical practice.
Participants receive guideline-directed medical therapy plus a structured 12-month exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program consisting of a 6-month supervised phase followed by a 6-month hybrid supervised and home-based phase.
Rehabilitation Program in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Efficacy of an m-Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Effects of a Multicomponent Training Program on Cardiac Function, Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients With HFpEF: SENSORFIT-4HEART Study
Comparison of the Effect of Two Types of Physical Exercises in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Physical Rehabilitation for Older Patients With Acute Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Exercise Training Effect in Patients With HF and PEF
Effects of a Supervised Training Program on Functional Capacity in Patients With HFpEF and Chronotropic Incompetence
Effectiveness of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in Elderly Patients With Heart Failure.